On the 3rd day of my Homemade Christmas we have Swedish Peppakakor. Swedish Peppakakor is a ginger cookie that are usually cut in the shape of little men and women, pigs or hearts, and are sometimes decorated with frosting. They are a traditional Swedish Christmas cookie that are much like what most call gingerbread. When I saw this recipe in my grandma’s recipes I knew I had to try it out. Plus pepparkakor are also said to make you nicer ( “ät en pepparkaka till så blir du snäll!” -Eat another gingersnap and you’ll be nice!) but then again who wouldn’t be nice after receiving some delicious Swedish Peppakakor?
After mixing up your Peppakakor dough making the cookies are easy!
I like to work with small amounts of dough at a time instead of rolling out a large rectangle.
You will roll out to your desired thin-ness. A thin cookie will be a nice crisp cookie (like traditional peppakakor) where a little bit thicker cookie is soft (like gingerbread).I made mine a mix of the two.
I used this cookie cutter that was my grandma’s. I am sure ningabreadmen although not traditional would have been great also.
Then you are left to take your cut cookies and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake. If you have ever had cookies stuck to your cookie sheet, parchment paper or a Silpat are must haves when making cookies. No more sticking cookies. I also highly suggest using an oven thermometer to check the temp of your oven to help prevent burnt cookies.
Then the hard part waiting for your cookies as the aroma starts to drift through the house.
Then all you have left to do is frost them if you want or just eat and Enjoy!
I hope you enjoy these cookies as much as my family does. They would be perfect for holiday cookie exchanges, cookie decorating parties or giving as gifts.
- 3 sticks butter or margarine
- 2 C Sugar
- 1 C Molasses
- 1½ C Heavy Cream
- 1T Baking Soda
- 1 T Water
- 1½ T Ginger (ground)
- 1½ T Cinnamon
- 1T Cloves (ground)
- 9 C Flour
- Cream Butter and Sugar
- Add Molasses and Spices
- Add Heavy Cream
- Add Baking Soda dissolved in water
- Mix in 7 cups of Flour for a firm dough
- Cover and let stand over night (refrigerate)
- Knead in remaining Flour
- Roll very thin and cut
- Bake at 375* about 7-8 minutes
- Frost if desired